Fence-making machine



' (No Model.)

W. M. CALHOUN.

EENGE MAKING MACHINE.

' No. 596,394. Patented Dee1 28,1897.

I umlllllllll UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. CALHOUN, OF ALLEGAN, MICHIGAN.

,FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,394, dated December 28, 1897.

Application filed July 30, 1897. Serial No. 645,573. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, WILLIAM M. CALHOUN, j

Figure l is a perspective view showing theI machine applied to a fence; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the upper part of the frame; Fig. 3, a rear view of a portionlof the frame;

Fig. 4, a horizontal section taken through the driving mechanism; Fig. 5, a detail horizontal section taken through one of the twisterwheels.

This invention relates to that class of handoperated machines adapted to fasten the pickets tothe horizontal wires of the fence by twisting the horizontal wires around the pickets at the point of intersection, the wires of the fence being twisted in opposite directions upon opposite sides of the pickets and the pickets being placed any suitable distance apart; and the invention consists of certain novel features of construction hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring tothe drawings by letters, a designates the main frame-bar, which consists of a vertical piece of angle-iron which has attached to its lower end afoot-piece b, for the pickets torest upon, and at intervals in its length the bracket-arms c, which support the twister-wheels d, these wheels being in alinement with each other and each being provid ed with the usual horizontal wire-holes. Each twister-wheel, as usual, has formed on it a sprocket-wheel, and one of its faces is provided with a circular enlargement d', which iits in a similarly-shaped opening in the bracket-arm c and forms the bearing or journal, a cap d2 being fastenedto the enlargement by a central bolt d5 to secure the twisterwheel to its bracket. The drive sprocketchain passes over and engages the sprocketwheels in the usual manner, and to support the return part of the chain away from the twister-wheels a pair of idle-sprockets f are employed, these wheels being carried respectively upon the upper and lower ends of a frame-bar g, which is constructed of angleiron and is attached to the main frame-bar bymeans of transverse bars g', the arms carrying said wheels f being adj ustably connected to the bar g to permit the chain to be tightened or loosened.

The drive-sprocket h is journaled in the lowerone of the transverse bars g', and attached to the shaft of said sprocket in front ofthe bar g is a bevel-gear t'. Meshing with the bevel-gear t' are two bevel-pinions j, mounted loosely upon a horizontal shaft Ic and held constantly in mesh with the gear '1I at points diametrically opposite each other in a horizontal line. These loose pinions are held against endwise movement on the shaft by the shaft-bearings Z, attached,respectivel y,

.to the bars aand g and projecting horizontally from the same at right angles to the bracketarm c. The shaft k is slidable endwise in the bearings Z and is provided at one end with an operating-crank m. At a point between the pinions the shaft is provided with a clutch-pin n, which is adapted to engage, as the shaft is slid one way or the other, clutches fn', formed on the adjacent hubs of the loose pinions.

Attached to the main bar a, at the rear thereof, are a series of picket-fingers o, one pair being secured near each twister-wheel. Each pair of twister-fingers is adapted to embrace the fence-wires and assist in pressing the pickets into the crotch formed by the twisted portions of the wires. On the rear of the frame-bar a is fastened a handle p, and projectingfforward from about the center of the main bar is a pivoted rod q, which pivotally connects the machine to a short vertical bar r, suspended on the fence-wires by staples or otherwise at apoint in advance of the machine, thereby assisting in supporting, guiding, and steadying the machine.

The operation of the machine is obvious. The fence-wires are stretched on the posts in pairs in the usual manner, the machine being suspended on the wires by having the wires pass through the twister-wheels and the staples or hooks on the bar fr. The operator takes hold of the handle p with one hand and the crank fm with the other hand. Then as each picket is dropped down in rear of the picket-ngers o the operator twists the wires IOO by simply rotating the crank, he first having of course slid the shaft endwise, so its clutchpin n will engage one of the loose pinions. Then when the next succeeding picket is inserted the operator slides the shaft in the opposite direction, so as to release the pinion that has just operated and engage the idle one and rotates the shaft in the same direction as in the previous twisting operation, thereby twisting the wires in the opposite direction. This means, whereby the wires are twisted in opposite directions on opposite sides of the pickets by rotating the driveshaft continuously in one direction, whereby the disadvantage of rotating the shaft first in one direction and then in the other is avoided is the essential feature of the invention.

Another essential feature consists in providing for shifting the clutch-pin by simply sliding the shaft endwise on its bearings, whereby the operator may retain his hold upon the operating-handle at all times, whereas were a separate device employed to shift the clutch the operator would be compelled to let go the operatinghandle after each twisting operation to shift the clutch. It will therefore be seen that with my machine and an operator, together with a single attendant to insert the pickets, very rapid work can be done, as the operator simply moves the machine along with one hand and takes hold of the operating-crank with the other hand and revolves it continuously in one direction, pressing it endwise slightly in one direction or the other after each twisting operation,

Another important feature lies in mounting the drive-shaft loosely in its bearings, whereby after each twisting operation the crank or handle will swing down to a pendent position, the shaft of course being pushed slightly one way or the other to disengage the clutch-pin, the advantage of which is that the handle will always assume a position mostI but also enables the operator to adjust the crank or handle rotatively, so that he may begin each twisting operation wherever he may feel that he can exert the greatest power with the least expenditure of energy.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is"

l. In a picket-fastening machine, the combination of a frame, twister-wheels, and means for rotating the same, said means consisting of a main driving-gear, a pair of driving-pinions meshing therewith, a drive-shaft journaled in the frame and carrying said pinions, said drive-shaft being endwise movable to bring either of the drive-pinions into aetion, whereby the twister-wheels may be rotated in opposite directions by rotating the operating-handle in one direction as and for the purposes set forth. v

2. The combination of a frame carrying a series of twister-wheels, a driving-gear, and means connecting the same to the twisterwheels to rotate the latter simultaneously, an endwise-movable shaft jeurnaled in the frame and carrying a pair of loose pinions meshing with the drive-gear, and an operating-crank and clutch devices to bring either of the pinions into action, whereby the twisterwheels may be rotated in opposite directions by rotating the operating-handle in one direction substantially as set forth.

3. In a fence-picket machine, the combination of an upright frame carrying a series of twister-wheels, a drive-gear journaled on the frame and connected to the twister-wheels to rotate them simultaneously, an endwise-movable drive-shaft journaled in the frame and provided with an operating-crank, a pair of loose pinions journaled on said shaft and constantly meshing with the drive-gear, each of said pinions having a clutch member on its inner side, and a clutch member secured stationarily to said drive-shaft between the loose pinions, whereby the twister-wheels may bc rotated in opposite directions by rotating the operating-handle in one direction as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM M. CALHOUN.

Witnesses:

M. A. Ross7 C. M. NASH.

IOO 

